As fall transitions into winter, many homeowners wonder if they should bag their grass clippings after the final mowing of the season. Proper lawn care before winter can set your grass up for success in the spring. So should you bag those grass clippings or leave them on the lawn? Here’s a quick answer:
It’s generally recommended not to bag grass clippings before winter. Leaving them on the lawn provides insulation for the grass roots and returns nutrients to the soil. However, excessively long clippings should be removed.
Now let’s dive into the details on grass clippings and winter lawn care.
Do Grass Clippings Left on the Lawn Damage the Grass Over Winter?
A common concern about leaving grass clippings on the lawn in winter is that they may smother or damage the grass over the cold months. However, research shows that grass clippings do not harm the lawn when left over winter.
In fact, grass clippings provide insulation for the grass plants and crown. The clippings form a protective blanket over the lawn. This insulation from grass clippings modifies the soil temperature and reduces fluctuation from cold winter temps. Insulated soil stays slightly warmer than bare soil. That warmth protects the grass roots and crown from winter damage.
So rather than damaging the lawn, properly managed grass clippings benefit the turf over winter.
Guidelines for Leaving Grass Clippings on the Lawn in Winter
Follow these tips for properly leaving clippings on the lawn over winter:
– Never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade when mowing. This ensures clippings remain short enough to filter down to the soil surface without clumping or smothering.
– Mow the lawn on a dry day when the clippings will drop and not clump together. Wet clippings are more likely to mat and smother grass.
– Make the last mowing of fall at a slightly higher cut height. This allows longer grass blades going into winter.
– Use a mulching lawn mower to finely shred clippings for easy decomposition and filtering into the lawn. Avoid side discharge mowers that windrow clippings in piles.
When to Remove Grass Clippings from the Lawn Before Winter
In some cases, it is advisable to remove clippings from the lawn prior to winter:
– If the turf was overly tall and you removed more than 1/3 of the blade height when mowing, bag the long clippings to prevent mats on the lawn surface.
– If heavy clippings are clumping together on the lawn, remove the debris to prevent smothering the grass.
– If grass clippings form heavy piles from side discharge mowing, bag or rake up the windrows.
– If the lawn suffers from excess thatch buildup, removing some clippings may be useful. But dethatching in fall is not recommended.
– If grass clippings make the lawn appear unsightly, you may choose to remove them for aesthetics.
Otherwise, leaving short, evenly dispersed clippings on the lawn over winter poses no problems for the turfgrass.
The Benefits of Grass Clippings for Winter Lawn Care
In addition to providing insulation for grass plants, leaving clippings on the lawn over the winter offers other benefits:
Nutrient Recycling
Grass clippings are high in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. As they decompose, these nutrients are released back into the soil. This natural fertilization replaces a portion of the nutrients removed by mowing and prepares soil for renewed grass growth in spring.
Bagging clippings over winter causes a net export of nutrients from the lawn ecosystem. Leaving them recycles nutrients for free.
Organic Matter Boost
Decomposing grass clippings add organic material to the soil. This improves soil structure and health. Better soil leads to stronger grass plants.
Moisture Retention
A layer of grass clippings shades and insulates the soil surface. This reduces evaporation over winter and helps the soil retain moisture. Keeping soils hydrated over winter protects grass crowns and roots.
Weed Suppression
Covering bare soil with a layer of clippings helps prevent early germination of weed seeds. It blocks light that triggers weeds to sprout. Fewer winter weeds means less competition for the grass in spring.
Cost Savings
Leaving clippings also saves the cost of extra bags and hauling debris over winter. The clippings decompose quickly to refeed the lawn. So there’s no need to pay to discard this valuable organic material.
Should I Apply Winter Fertilizer Before Bagging Clippings?
Winter fertilization is not necessary when grass clippings are left on the lawn. They provide a natural nutrient boost that lasts into spring.
Here are some key points on winter fertilizing lawns:
– Avoid fertilizing cool-season grasses like fescue and bluegrass after October. Growth slows as temperatures drop. Fertilizer applied too late may accumulate in the soil over winter.
– Never fertilize frozen turf or when snow is on the ground. The fertilizer can burn grass plants.
– If you choose to fertilize in November, use a low nitrogen, slow-release product designed for winter. But this is not essential.
– Grass clippings and compost topdressing provide organic nutrition through the winter months.
– Wait to fertilize in early spring when soil temperatures climb above 55°F to encourage healthy grass growth.
So fertilizing in late fall or winter is unnecessary and offers little benefit to the lawn. Grass clippings alone feed the turf over the cold months.
Should I De-Thatch the Lawn Before Bagging Clippings?
De-thatching refers to removing accumulated dead material or thatch from the lawn. While thatch management is important for a healthy lawn, de-thatching is not recommended in fall heading into winter.
Here’s some guidance on de-thatching timing:
– The best time to de-thatch cool-season grasses is early spring once soils thaw and grass begins growing.
– Avoid de-thatching in fall, as it can stress grass plants right before winter dormancy.
– If de-thatching is needed due to excessive buildup, core aerate first. Then de-thatch once grass is actively growing in spring.
– Remove only the dead undergrowth with de-thatching. Don’t dig into the soil and damage living crowns.
– Overseed bare spots after de-thatching to replenish the turfgrass stand before summer.
– Leave any grass clippings on the lawn after de-thatching to provide organic matter.
Thatch buildup occurs over years. Trying to remove it all at once risks lawn damage. Follow seasonal guidelines to responsibly de-thatch without undo stress on the grass.
How Should I Prepare My Lawn Mower for Winter Storage?
Proper mower maintenance and storage over winter ensures your equipment stays in top shape for spring and summer mowing. Here are tips on winterizing your mower:
– Clean grass debris and clippings from the mowing deck, wheels, engine and underside of the machine. Hose it off to remove clinging debris.
– Drain the fuel tank and run the engine dry to prevent stale gas issues over the cold months.
– Check and change the oil and spark plugs. Clean the air filter and replace if worn.
– Sharpen the mower blades so they’re fresh and ready for spring growth. Replace badly worn blades.
– Apply lubricating oil to necessary points on the mower to prevent rusting. Wipe the exterior with an oily cloth.
– If possible, store the mower sheltered from the elements in a shed or garage. If storing outside, cover it with a tarp or weatherproof cover.
– Inflate the tires to the maximum pressure listed on the sidewalls to avoid flat spots from sitting.
– Charged batteries tend to slowly discharge over winter. Remove batteries from electric mowers and maintain indoors on a trickle charger.
Taking the time to properly clean and store your mower saves money on replacements parts and repairs needed in spring. A well maintained mower also ensures a crisp, clean cut once mowing resumes.
Conclusion
Leaving grass clippings dispersed on the lawn over winter poses no threat to the health of the turfgrass. In fact, grass clippings provide multiple benefits for overwintering lawns including insulation, nutrition and organic matter for the soil.
Aim to mow the lawn on a dry day with sharp blades for an even distribution of clippings. This creates a protective layer over the grass rather than clumping into mats. Adjust mowing practices as needed in fall to avoid excessively long clippings that require removal.
Avoid late fall fertilization, dethatching and aeration that can stress the grass heading into winter dormancy. Instead allow grass clippings to naturally feed the lawn until spring growth resumes.
Take time to properly clean and maintain your mower before storage over the winter months. This prevents problems from arising next mowing season.
Following these tips will ensure your lawn stays healthy under the grass clippings blanket through the winter for an enviable green lawn next spring.
